How to Become a Dental Assistant in Detroit
Detroit, Michigan, the Motor City, is known for cars and Motown music, but it’s also a big population center with a big metropolitan area and plenty of job opportunities. A career as a dental assistant is a great choice if you live in or around the city, as demand for qualified professionals continues to grow.
A dental assistant is a trained professional who works with dentists and hygienists. They are responsible for a variety of tasks, including patient care, X-rays and administrative office work. Many states require that dental assistants be certified, so check out the Michigan requirements here before you get started.
Dental Assistant Schools in Detroit
There are several dental assistant programs in Michigan that are accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. A few of these are in the metro Detroit area, including
- Wayne County Community College District. WCCCD’s dental assistant program includes two semesters of coursework and a third semester of clinical practice with hands-on work experience. Graduates are prepared to pass the exams for national and state certification. There are also several campus options, including Taylor, downriver from Detroit and situated on 100 acres of farmland. Students can also attend the downtown campus, right next to the city’s historic financial district, a campus on the east side of Detroit or the Ted Scott campus in Belleville.
- Baker College. The Clinton Township campus of Baker is located in the eastern suburbs in Macomb County, not far from the shores of Lake St. Clair and the large beach at Lake Saint Clair Metropark. The Baker dental assistant program offers a certificate that prepares students to become Registered Dental Assistants in Michigan.
Career Outlook and Salary Expectations
Job growth for dental assistants is strong throughout Michigan, with an increase in jobs of 19.9 percent expected between 2016 and 2026. In the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn metropolitan area there are approximately 4,500 employed dental assistants. The average salary for these workers is $16.80 per hour and $34,980 per year.
Working as a Dental Assistant in Detroit
The Detroit area is large, covering three counties and several million residents, so there are thousands of potential dental offices that may be hiring new dental assistants now and in the coming years. Choose from the city, the suburbs or more rural outer suburbs, depending on where you hope to work and live. With the right education and certification you’ll be prepared to land any available job in the area.